Any Sako 85 fans out there? Tell me the scoop on this new offering from Sako!

Since this is an AR forum I guess I am qualified with no first hand experience --- but I have looked at them at length and am impressed.

I've been running one in a 338 federal for 5-6 years now. Shoots great, have killed a couple of elk with it.

Just great ! I have two of them....260rem (varmint laminated) and 300wm laminated stainless (grey wolf model); shot plenty of stuff with them and they are always 100% reliable and super accurate.

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
Since this is an AR forum I guess I am qualified with no first hand experience --- but I have looked at them at length and am impressed.

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
Since this is an AR forum I guess I am qualified with no first hand experience --- but I have looked at them at length and am impressed.

Phil,
If you stayed in a Holiday Inn, you are qualified to offer your opinion. You get some slack as you,are more than qualified to voice your thoughts on guns!

I'm sure its a good gun, but to clanky at that price.

The Sako 85 was introduced in 2007, hardly a new offering.

I had a Finnlight version in 270 Win a while back. Nice light rifle and quite accurate with factory ammo.

I've had a few Sako 75's and currently have one in a laminate stainless in 223 Rem.

I prefer the 75 over the 85 by a wide margin. The 85 has a nicer stock profile but the 75 has features in the action that I prefer over the 85. The 75 does not look like part of the bolt handle is missing like the 85 does. The 75 does not have the child proof magazine latch of the 85 and the "controlled feed" of the 85 is nothing but a marketing gimmick IMHO.
I've heard reports of 85's ejecting spent brass up into the scope turret where it is caused to fall back into the action however the 270 I had did not do this.

quote:

Originally posted by rembo:
I've heard reports of 85's ejecting spent brass up into the scope turret where it is caused to fall back into the action however the 270 I had did not do this.

The 30/06 length action definitely does this - or it certainly did in my 9.3x62 Black Bear. It was so bad that it bent the case mouths and chipped the surface of my scope.

A friend of mine had exactly the same issue with his 30/06 Grizzly.

My 308 Black Bear was fine so it would appear not to affect the short action. The other length actions (300win mag etc)I have no experience of but I would be surprised if it did not contact the scope housing on ejection too.

The 85 is not a good action. The position of the ejector is in the 6 o'clock position - when the bolt is drawn back and the case is ejected there is only one way the case can go - and that's directly UPWARDS. And that's how it happens.

I had a 75 for awhile and that cured me on "new age" Sakos forever -it just fell apart. I have a few older Sakos, L61R and FN actions, and they are wonderful!

PS I´m from Finland so I get to badmouth Sako.

quote:

Originally posted by cewe:
I had a 75 for awhile and that cured me on "new age" Sakos forever -it just fell apart. I have a few older Sakos, L61R and FN actions, and they are wonderful!

PS I´m from Finland so I get to badmouth Sako.

I own dozens of Sakos and have hunted with virtually nothing else for many, many years. That said, like most Sako enthusiasts, I find the current production Sakos rather disinteresting and greatly overpriced. Due to that lack of interest and the cost barrier, I have no way to say what kind of performance they may turn in. I understand that they usually go "bang" when the trigger is pulled, except for a few of them which apparently go "ka-boom" when the trigger is pulled.

Big Sako fan, but nothing newer than the A series from 80s and early 90s. The 75 and 85 just don't do it at their usual asking price.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Any Sako 85 fans out there? Tell me the scoop on this new offering from Sako!

Me, I prefer my Sako m75 rifles. First was new in 1997 in an SS 300WM model and never looked back!! I have a good range of calibers in them now, mostly purchased between 2005 and 2008. Especially fond of my 243 and my 338-06AI that is built off a Sako m75 Greywolf.

I prefer the m75 Monte Carlos stock over the m85 and the do not like the new mag release on the m85.